Continuing environmental monitoring, Earth Day and beyond in 2020

Happy Earth Day everybody and a big thanks to Heide Estes for doing something to allow us all to mark this unprecedented Earth Day.

I'm an associate professor in the Biology department and affiliated with the Urban Coast Institute. I teach courses in marine science in the MEBP degree program and research water quality in local ecosystems. Here are two things we are doing at Monmouth University with students and local community members to mark this Earth Day and plan to continue through what will likely be a very different summer than we're used to.

First, my wonderful summer research students (part of Monmouth University's SRP, https://www.monmouth.edu/school-of-science/srp/) have decided that doing something is better than doing nothing this summer. We're modifying our planned research activities to operate under remote conditions through at least July 1, possibly later depending on what happens. I'm proud of them for this and looking forward to working together and thinking creatively this summer to continue our research.

Second, I am privileged to work with a network of citizen scientists (CLONet, https://www.monmouth.edu/clonet/) through an Urban Coast Institute project funded by the Jules L. Plangere foundation. These citizen scientists have been monitoring Monmouth County coastal lakes' water quality since last spring and are continuing today and through the summer. Together, we have learned important things about these lakes that will be useful for future management and restoration efforts, and engaged community members in an environmentally-positive activity. The pics below are from the crew at Wesley Lake in Asbury Park, NJ.

Folks all over the world have noted changes in our environment associated with the shutdown caused by COVID-19. This is likely temporary and the way in which these changes were achieved is not something to I'd want to be permanent. However, it does offer us a chance to look around and see how much of an impact our normal activities have, and how responsive different systems are to to a reduction in that activity. What can we learn from this moving forward? A lot, and this is partly what motivates me to continue programs with students and community members such as I described above. Of course, everything we do will be done with physical distancing and 'flattening the curve' in mind out of respect for the healthcare workers who continue to fight on the front line of this epidemic. Much thanks is owed to them!!!

Happy Earth Day everyone and stay safe!